Chapter Twenty-Six
They’d invited all their closest people to spend Christmas Eve at the White House, and every bed in the house would be occupied that night.
Which reminded Sam that she needed to check in with Gideon to make sure everything was ready, and with Shelby, who was overseeing many of the details.
Shelby was settling into her new official role as the White House social secretary, while remaining a daily presence in the lives of Scotty, Alden and Aubrey, all of whom adored her.
Since she was waiting for the report on Grace’s fingerprints, Sam went into her office and put through a call to Gideon to take care of some first lady business.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cappuano.”
“Hi there, Gideon. And you can call me Sam when it’s just us.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Not ma’am. Sam.”
“Okay, Sam,” he said, laughing. “How’s it going?”
“Well, we’re wrapping up two homicide investigations in time for me to accompany the president to Des Moines. Other than that… all is well.”
“I know how hard that will be, but it’ll mean so much to the families that you care enough to come.”
“It’s such a sad and tragic thing.”
“It’s horrible. Those poor families.”
“Because the show must go on even in difficult times, I called to check in with you about Christmas Eve to make sure we’re all set.”
“Everything is coming together. We’ve got RSVPs from everyone you invited. The Gonzaleses aren’t spending the night because his parents will be in town for Christmas, so they’ll come for the party and go home after. The rest of your guests have accepted with pleasure—and quite a bit of excitement.”
“I’ll tell Gonzo to bring his parents to the party.”
“I’ll make a note of that and notify the Secret Service.”
Sam couldn’t wait to wake up on Christmas morning with their kids, her nieces, nephews, Nick’s half brothers and their friends’ kids. They were hoping to do it every year they were in the White House.
“When you return from Des Moines, we’ll do a final review of the menus for dinner and Christmas brunch, if that meets with your approval.”
“That’d be wonderful. Thank you again for all your hard work to make this happen for us, Gideon.”
“It’s a pleasure. The staff is enjoying having a young family back in the White House.”
“That’s nice to hear. Do let me know if any of them—or the dog—are getting on your last nerve.”
“They’re all doing great and making a very nice transition, it seems.”
“I can’t wait for time off to spend together and to check out Camp David.”
“You’ll find that to be a grand adventure, for sure. I’ll check in with you over the weekend, if that suits you?”
“It does. Thanks again.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
“Before I let you go, I wanted to ask whether the White House uses natural gas.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Huh.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It’s just that I’m not a fan after having worked a house explosion due to a natural gas leak early in my career.”
“I understand, but I can assure you our gas line is inspected monthly and is kept in pristine condition.”
“That’s comforting. Thanks for letting me know that.”
“Of course. You know where to find me if there’s anything else I can do for you.”
“Thanks, Gideon.”
Sam ended that call and put through another to her designer friend Marcus, who’d come to their attention when Nick was a U.S. senator from Virginia.
“As I live and breathe,” he said when he picked up the call, “is this the first lady of the United States of America?”
Sam huffed out a laugh at his outrageousness. “So I’m told.”
“I was planning to call you today about a quick fitting before next Thursday.”
“I meant to call you to thank you for sending the clothes for President Nelson’s funeral. You made me look very first ladyish.”
“I’m glad you were pleased.”
“How are we coming with red, formal and sexy for Christmas Eve?”
“I’ve got you covered, my love.”
“And you remember I’ve gained a couple of pounds since my father died, right?”
“Not to worry. Will Marcus get some free publicity out of this?”
“We can release a photo and credit the hip designer who made Mrs. C look so good.”
“In that case, I’ll have something to you by Tuesday. We’ll do a quick fitting just to be sure it fits perfectly?”
“That works.”
“Um, shall I meet you at the White House, then?”
Sam smiled at how he could barely contain his excitement as he said those words. “Since that’s where I live these days, I guess so.”
“Oh my God, my mother and grandmother are going to die!”
“Why don’t you bring them with you?” If there was one great thing about living in the people’s house, it was the ability to share it with her people.
“Stop it.”
“Why not?”
“Are you serious?”
“Very serious. Text me legal names, dates of birth and addresses for all of you, and I’ll leave word with the Secret Service to let you in.”
“Sam… I mean, Mrs. Cappuano—”
“Please call me Sam, Marcus.”
“You’ll never know what this means to me—or to them. That I’m dressing the first lady of the United States. You honor me beyond all measure.”
“I love your clothes, and I hope we can work closely together to keep me looking good over the next few years.”
“Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”
“Since you offered, what’ve you got in black that I might wear to Des Moines?”
“I’ll courier over a few options right away.”
“I’ll let them know to expect the package from you.”
“Should I include shoes?”
“Do you know me at all, Marcus?”
His laughter came ringing through the phone. “I’ll fix you right up.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
“No, thank you. I hope you know that you’ll be making my career with this.”
He sounded like he was on the verge of tears. “I’m very happy to have the chance to work with you. I’ll see you—and your mom and grandmother—very soon.”
“I’m going to call them right now. They’re going to lose their minds!”
Sam hung up with him, delighted by his excitement. She had to admit there were some positives to being the first lady. Inviting people to the White House was definitely one of them.
Freddie came to the door. “Dr. McNamara was able to determine that Grace’s prints are a match for the ones she found on Pam during the autopsy.”
“Is Grace’s attorney here yet?”
“She arrived a few minutes ago and is waiting in the lobby.”
“Excellent. I don’t want to jinx us, but how nice would it be to wrap up two cases in the same day?”
“It would be very nice, and I can’t believe you said that out loud.”
“I know, right? I’m walking on the wild side lately.
You can let her attorney in to see her. And let’s finish with her phone in the meantime.
” It surely seemed as if the stars were aligning in her favor today, Sam thought, as she went into the conference room to finish going through Grace’s messages from the days prior to Pam’s disappearance and afterward.
One of them, from the day after, stopped her in her tracks.
Lucas Tappen texted, Did you do it?
It’s taken care of. Now it’s your turn.
I don’t know if I can.
You agreed this needed to happen. Now do your part, or I will if you’re not man enough.
I said I’d do it, and I will.
He’s at his office every morning by seven. His staff doesn’t arrive until eight. There’s your opportunity. He also stays late after they leave at four. I’ll be waiting.
“Holy shit,” Sam whispered, grabbing the receiver of the phone on the table and putting through a call to Patrol. “This is Lieutenant Holland. I need people on Mark Ouellette immediately.” She gave his office and home addresses. “I believe his life is in imminent danger.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Patrol sergeant said. “We’ll dispatch officers to both places right away.”
“Thank you.”
When Freddie returned from taking Grace’s attorney in to meet with her, Sam said, “Grace was in cahoots with Lucas Tappen. She’d take out Pam if he did her dad.”
“Come on.”
“It’s all right here.” Sam showed the texts to Freddie, who scanned them quickly.
“Lucas knew she was going to kill Pam, and he’s planning to take Mark out.”
“These are high school kids plotting murder.”
“They’re high school kids who caught their parents having an affair and decided to take matters into their own hands, except only one of them followed through with it.”
“Are we picking him up?”
“He knew his mother was going to be murdered and did nothing to stop it. You bet your ass we’re picking him up. Let’s go.”
They were almost to the Tappens’ home when Sam took a call from an unknown number on speaker. “Holland.”
“This is Patrol Sergeant Kramer. When my officers arrived at Mr. Ouellette’s office, we found the subject deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.”
“Oh fuck,” Sam muttered as she slammed her hand against the wheel and pressed the accelerator to the floor, planning to go by the Tappens’ home to look for Lucas before proceeding to Mark’s office. “We’ll be there shortly.”
To Freddie, she said, “Get Gonzo, Cameron, Jeannie and Matt over to Mark Ouellette’s office to process the scene and put out an APB for Lucas Tappen. List him as armed and dangerous.”
“On it.”
They were two blocks from the Tappens’ house when Freddie said, “Sam, look.”
As they went flying by a parked car, she caught a glimpse of a young man bent over the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes to make a U-turn.
While Freddie called Gonzo and updated him on the situation with Mark Ouellette, Sam pulled up behind the parked car, got out and withdrew her weapon as she approached the vehicle.
Knowing he was armed, she stood back when she knocked on the window.
The young man inside startled and looked up at her, his face red and his eyes ravaged.
His shock at seeing her registered in the second before he aimed a weapon at her.
She kept her weapon trained on him, praying she wouldn’t have to use it. “Put it down and get out of the car!”
Freddie appeared on the other side of the car with his gun drawn.
She took a step forward, hoping to make eye contact with him. “Put it down, Lucas, and get out of the car!”